| Coordinator: Dr. Lisa Harlow
Psychology undergraduates avoid the quantitative based courses,
believing them to be difficult. Avoidance or poor performance in these courses sets limits
on students’ future areas of study and career choices. An advanced level LC in
Quantitative and Research Psychology will involve approximately 25 students in PSY 300
Quantitative Psychology, PSY 301 Research Psychology, taken sequentially, and a concurrent
course, PSY 489/499 Independent Research/Practicum. An additional 25 students, not
enrolled in the LC, will serve as a control for outcome measures. Instructors in PSY 300
and 301 will use a program of learning enhancement activities rousing noesis (LEARN:
Harlow, 1998). Activities include: 1) Peer Mentors who role model and facilitate learning,
2) Know and Not (K&N) sessions where students indicate what is known and not from each
lecture and designated reporters summarize this input in a handout and in a brief
presentation the following class; 3) Consult Corners where students work in collaborative
small groups on problem-based scenarios, helping them integrate material before an exam;
and 4) Applied Projects where students engage in a hands-on projects. In the third course,
students will practice their quantitative and research skills in either 1) a Practicum as
a Peer Mentor in either PSY 300 or 301 after successfully completing one or both, or 2)
engaging in a research project with experienced researchers in quantitative psychology
will serve as faculty sponsors. The students will meet once a month with Peer Mentors and
faculty sponsors for one-year. All 50 students, including the 25 control group
participants, will receive a pre- and post-survey regarding attitudes, experiences and
performance. It is expected that students involved in the LC will demonstrate more
positive attitudes and performance.
Notes and Updates: |
